Demountable freight container for liquids



Feb. 3',v 1942. R. A. NoRBoM DEMOUNTABL FREIGHT CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS Filed Jan. l4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet ll ATTORNEYS Feb. 3, 1942. n R. A. NoRBoM 2,271,660

' DEMOUNTABLE FREIGHT CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDs Filed Jan. 4, 1938 4 sheets-sheet 2 55 ff Je i INVENT OR.

www a www ATTORNEY 6 Feb. 3, 194.2. R. A. NoRBoM` Filed Jan. 4, 1938 DEMOUNTABLE FREIGHT CONTAINER `FOR LIQUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E w a WM fv/zm/ ATTORNEYS INVENT OR.

R. A. NORBOM DEMOUNTABLE FREIGHT CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 4, 1958 Feb. 3, 1942,

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb.l 3, 1942 DEMOUNTABLE FREIGHT CONTAINER Fon 'A LIQUIDS Ragnar A. Norbom, Clifton, N. J., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to National Fitch Corporation, New York, N. Y., va. corporation of Delaware Application January 4,1938, serial No. 133,273l

4'C1aims.

This invention relates toa demountable tank'` body comprising a horizontal tank and a supporting cradle arranged to be slid as a unit from one vehicle to another, such as from a highway truck to a railway vehicle or vice versa, or between a vehicle and a shippers platform.- My tank, which has adouble shell tank with intermediate insulation, is designed particularly for the carryingoi milk but may be used for other purposes. The tank is mounted on supporting holsters whichare secured to the under-portion of the outer shell, these holsters carrying parallel ,skid rails whereby the whole tank construction may be readily shifted from one support to anlf desired, the tank proper may constitute the intermediate portion of a body designed for carrying liquid in bulk, and also for carrying a number of comparatively small independently removable containers, such for instance, ordinary One of the objects of the invention is toA provide a tank of such form that it may carry the ma ....r

maximum quantity within the limits'of available width and height and at the same time shall have no sharp corners on the inside, thus en- Y abling it to be readily cleaned.

Another object of my invention is to so brace the tank by means of members between the shells and plate members carried by theI shells-that 'a very iirm constructioswill be provided, not- Y Another object of my invention is to prc fide "a double walled tank of a form directly cooperating with'the supporting bolsters of compartivelylow height, thug lowering the center ofgravity and reducing the height-of the 'Skil-cmg which'houses the holsters. Other features of theinvention will be `apparent trom the following description of preferred is illustrated in the drawings.-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section, of` .afllllletlllkbdythisinvenont Fig.2 is an end view thereof; Fig.'3 is a'vertlcal sect'mn on a plane parallel with Fig. 2V, and just behimtheendofthetank; Flg.4 is anenlarged vertical section broken away through the two walls of the -tank adjacent the upper .and lower corners thereof; Fig. 5 is a detail'bf the internal bmeingmthetwotankwalls, as illustratedby line l-I, Figs. ,4 and 13, but on a larger scale:

Hgs and 'I and 8 are horizontal cross-sections,

at the junction or the-tank sideana endas imn-` 24 'has upwardly extending ilanges 2l overlapping 56 fthe side plates 23.

cated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Figrl; Fig. 9 is a plan of thetank bodyoi the `v ends of the sides, top andbottom towhich they bottom,

. preceding iigures broken away to illustrate the bolster frame; Fig. l0 is a detail illustrating the skid rail and shoe, being a vertical section on the line Ill-I0 lon Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a vertical 5 section of a modiiied form of'a tank body formed with compartments on each side for carrying removable containers; Fig. 12 is a horizontal section of the tank body-of Fig. 11, as indicated by the line l2l2 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a detail in section iilustrating'the construction of the wall of the tank proper and the adjacent portions of the container compartment at either side ofthe tank proper. J

The tank of the embodiment shown in. Figs.

1 to 10 is of approximately rectangular form in cross-section, but with each wall bowed outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3. This rectanguloidal tank has an inner metal wall ll,- and an outer wall 20, and an intermediate insulation 3l.

The innerv wall of the tank is composed of sheets in edge abutment welded together as indicated at lines Il in Fig. 4. The line of weld is just above, or just below the corner Yof the tank and the top sheet is curved downwardly above the corner` to the weld, and the bottom sheet is curved upwardly to its weld, as indicated by the.

lines I2 in Fig. 4., This provides a smooth, uninterrupted interior for the full height of the tank.

Convex heads l5, fiange'dat their edgesasat lines I6 inFig. 6, have abutting engagement with the are welded at I1.

The curved surface I2 at the junction of the Asides with une top and bottomand the cla-ved surface I6 at the junction `oi? sides, top and bottom with the ends eliminate any' abrupt junction within the tank, allowing it to beV readily cleaned.

On its outer side the inner shell is braced by channel-shaped bars Il, which in their complete is madeup' of four parts concaved on its base and bevelled at the ends 'to produce miter-joints fwelded to them.

Ilhe outer .shell is composed essentially of sides.

top andends located parallel with the I er shell. As showri,.the top platen, 3, has downwardly extending side flanges '21 which overlap the s ide plates [23, and the bottom' plate The side plates, top and botform embrace the inner shellV and are welded to it, as indicated at Il lin Fig. 5. Each of these bars tom plates are welded together with these overlapping flanges.

Contacting with the inner face of the outer shell are flat straps 41 having a width corresponding to the channel braces 40 of the inner shell, extending completely about the interior of the outer shell in registration with the channels on the inner shell.

The intermediate insulation between the shells comprises blocks of cork, or similar material, so shaped as to practically fill the space between the shells and .be somewhat compressed when the outer shell is put in place. These cork blocks thus for the most part engage the outer surface of the inner. shell and the inner surface of the outer shell, and also abut the flanges 45 of the channel-shaped brace bars and the edges of the straps 41. Between these flanges of the brace bars are somewhat 'smaller cork blocks 3| which llthe channels and are abutted and compressed by the brace straps 41.

The top shell, at the top of the tank, is provided with a man-hole, designated generally 50, and at one or both ends near the bottom, with a pocket 60 formed by inwardly diverting the walls and which contains the discharge valve. These features, which are not specifically concerned with the present invention, will be hereafter briefly described.

As illustrated, it will be seen that, disregarding the man-hole entrance and the pocket exit, my tank is of approximately rectangular form, and at the same time, is outwardly bowed at the top, bottom, sides and ends. By this means, I

materially increase the cubic' capacity of the Y sters as indicated in Fig. 10. At these notches, end surfaces of the U-shaped bar abut the outer faces of the bolsters and are Welded to them as shown at 16,. Figs. 9 and 10. The ends of these longitudinal sills extend over the horizontal flanges and abut the vertical flanges at the end sills 12, and they are welded to both the horizontal and vertical portion 4of such sills, as indicated at 11, Fig. 10. It will be seen that this makes a very rm construction and produces a light and at the same time rigid base frame.

. reaches from flange to flange, and has a projecting portion 8l resting on the upper horizonof two angle bars facing each other and with their'bases resting on the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 10. The side bars 10 are connected by end sills 12, also inwardly facing angle bars, which form mitered joints with theside sills at 13. There may also be external reinforcing caps 14 at the'corners. The top edges of the transverse angle bars 1I 'are concave of` a curvature corresponding to that of the bottom of the tank and are welded directly to the bottom plate 24 so that each bolster in effect forms a box girder across the tank. The -vertical flanges 10a and 12a on the side and end sills are extended to a sufficient height to constitute skirts leading from the bottom of the base frame to the outer shell of the tanks and protecting the base frame from snow and dirt.

Between the successive bolsters 1/I are Welded longitudinal members 15 of effective U-shape, Ithough composed of two angle beams facing each` other and with the horizontal flange of one on top ofthe flange of the other. These members rise to the full height of the bolsters9 at that location and extendwell below them as indicated in Fig. 3. These U-'shaped members in effect extend from end to end of the base frame, but are periodically notched to receive the bolof the member.

lthe bottom sheet 24.

tal flange of the member 15. Flanges 82 rise from the shoe( and are Welded to the side walls This shoe is likewise welded to the under side of the horizontal flange of the end sill 12. The shoe is thus very effectively held in place.

In the travel of thetank body from one vehicle to another, it is pushed or pulled by a suitable bar attached to the end of the base frame. 'Ilo-effect this attachment, I have secured a steel pocket member to the center of each end sill; I reinforce the end sill Iat this region by gusset plates 92, the gusset plates at the opposite ends being connected by a longitudinal strap 93 and each gusset plate being connected by tw`o diagonal straps 94 to the longitudinal U-shaped bars 15. Thus the stresses of pushing the tank body or pulling itI from one vehicle or platform to another will be effectively. distributed throughout the base frame.

v In assembling ademountable tank in the form l illustrated in Fig. 3, Ind it convenient to proceed as follows: The base frame is completed and the sheet.24 of the outer shell is welded to the top of the base frame, thus forming a complete unit. The inner shell is completed with the channel-shaped braces welded on its exterior, then the insulation is placed within the channel-shaped braces and the same is bound in place by the application of the external fiat brace bar about such insulation. Now the main portion of the bottom insulation is placed on top of the plate 24, spaced to receive the bottom brace bars of the inner shell, and the inner shell is put into place; then the main part of the side insulation isapplied'and the side sheets of the outer shell are put into place with their lower edges extending inside of the upturned edges of The lower edges of the side sheets, and the upper edges of the bottom sheets, and of the side skirts are now all -welded together. Then the insulation may be applied on top of the inner shell and the top sheets applied with their downwardly extending anges overlapping the side sheets, these overlapping flanges being then welded to the side sheets.

` Thereafter the man-hole closure'and the doors for the discharge valve pocket may be applied. A similar order of procedure may be followed in assembling the embodiment of Fig. 4 11.

frame |28 carrying suitable 2,271,660 4opposite sides for carrying individual milkvtanks.

Such a construction is illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and'13, where the tank proper has an inner wall ||0, and outer wall |20, and intermediate insulation |30, and inner and outer The outer side of 'the inner vshell ||0 is braced by channel-shaped brace bars |40. `The inner shell is composed of plates curved at the corners as at H2, and abutted and welded similarly to that heretofore described. The tank proper, as thus provided has an entrance man-hole feature 50, and exit pocket feature `|50, the same as 11., 12 and bottom extension |21 is van outer skeleton wall V y doors. The outer wall of the tank proper in this instance is preferably flat, and thus parallel with the outer frame. |28. Opposite the channel-shaped brace |40 about the inner shell I |0 are bracing straps |41.

It will be seen that the arrangementdescribed provides a compartment at each side of the tank proper. This is'preferably made double deck by an intermediate platform |55, and enables the mounting of four horizontal, rows of individual milk tanks |58. These may place and removed through the openings in the side walls |28 normally closed by insulating doors be readily put in |50, which are indicated as mounted on horizonl tal hinge axes at their lower edges.

The side compartments of the embodiment being described rest on and are carried by the bolsters 1|, the flanges of which are 'cut down adjacent the ends to provide space for such compartments as shown in Fig. 11. The intermediateportions of the holsters are the same as heretofore described, and such intermediate portion is provided with longitudinal intermediate U-shaped rails, which carry skid shoes, and there is the push-and-pull bar socket with its reinforced gussets, all of the same form as heretofore described.

The external dimensions of the tank shown inv Flgs'.,11 and 12 lmay be substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 3, and the skid rails have the same spacing, so body may be mounted o n the vehicle interchangeably with the single-compartment tank of Fig. 3. Revertlng now to the man-hole construction 50, which is the same as in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 11, this may be of any convenient form. I have shown it ln l tially square sleevel extending vertically as a continuation of the inner top late I0, and at its upper end the sleeve is shown braced by an outside reinforcement 52. A suitable inner cover 53 is shown as resting on the top of the reinforced sleeve and held down by a clamping bar 54, and the whole covered by a suitable cap 55 with double walls and intermediate insulation. g

Around the exterior of the man-hole I have placed a suitable roughened mat 50 which forms a cat-walk. 'This may be of metal welded. or otherwise secured directly to the top Fig. 3 as made by asubstanplate 2|,-

which is nearly enoughhorizontal to enable the mat to lie directly on the top plate and still form a convenient support for the attendant.A

At one, or both ends ofthe tanks of Figs. 3 and 11, near the bottom, I have provided a pocket 60 formed by diverting inwardly the end wall of the tank, both the inner and outer shell, and the insulation as shown in Fig. 1. In this pocket, I have mounted a suitable discharge valve 6| connected by a conduit 62 at the interior of the tank. A pair of hinged doors 63 normally close this pocket, these doors being hinged to the end skirt. The construction in this regard is substantially the vsame for both types of tank.

Reference is made to my divisional application, No. 244,716, filed December 9, 1938, and now matured into Patent #2,237,310, for claims relating to the base frame features herein shown and described.

I claim: 1

1. A double walled tank comprising the two walls spaced apart and having insulation between them, the tank being approximately rectangular in cross-section buthaving curved top and bottom portions', channel-shaped brace bars on the sides,-

top and bottom having their bases conforming in shape to the shank plate and meeting adjacent the corners, and straps at the corners overlapping the adjacent brace bars and welded to them.

2. A double walled tank with intermediate insulation, said tank being approximately rectangular in cross-section but having its bottom bowed downwardly, its top bowed upwardly and its sides bowed outwardly, the inner shell being comprised of plates, some of which are linearly curved about the. corner of the tank and are welded in abutting relation to other plates adjacent -the corner, brace bars on the outer side of theinner shell composed of four flanged bars having' their bases curved in .correspondence with the shell plates and welded thereto, the ends o'f the bars abutting eachother adjacent the corners being, there connected by straps. f

curved bottom and an upwardly curved top andv vertical sides, double deck compartments on the that this compartmented tank ciated with the top, the bottom,

outer sides of the tank, the lower compartments having their inner walls composed 'of the side walls of the tank with al downward extension and an outward extension forming the bottom of said compartment, the upper compartment having its inner wall composed of the tank side and its top a continuation of the tank top, and lclosure for the outer sides of the compartment.

4. A doublewalled tank of approximately rectangular cross-section but with all Walls bowed outwardly, the plates of the inner shell being connected by vbutt joints welded together, the plates of the outer shell 'having lap gether, brace bars of channel shells, each brace bar-b ing composed of four bars mounted end to en and respectively assoand the two sides,

said bars meeting adjacent the corners of the tank and there connected by straps between the shells, al-flat strap on the inner side of the outer shell curved about the corner opposite the chanbase of the channels. v

' RAGNAR A. NORBOM.

-joints welded toform between the 

